Article

Look up and ask

Have you ever had one of those days when you want someone to notice what a bad mood you are in and ask ‘how are you?’ But no one does, so you walk around head down feeling sorry for yourself. I think the best advice you could ever hear on one of these days is: look up and ask.

This simple phrase comes from the beginning of Psalm 121, where the psalmist writes, ‘I look up to the hills, where does my help come from?’ and the answer to their question… “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” It is when we stop and realise that the help we should be seeking isn’t from ourselves or other people, it is from God, that our situations can change. So, I’ve chosen some verses that can help us when we’re struggling and just need to look up and call out to God for help.

For when life feels like it’s going nowhere…

You are trying to follow God’s plan but not getting very far. A great verse (and amazing promise) is Philippians 1:6 ‘being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…’. We are promised that God won’t give up on what He has started. Keep trusting and do not give up because God has promised that He will never give up on you.

For when you are feeling useless and things seem impossible…

Remember Ephesians 3:20 ‘now to him who is able to do imeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us.’ This verse is such an encouragement, not only does it highlght the power that God has – it literally cannot be measured – it also reminds us that through knowing Jesus that immense power is in us. God wants to do great things through you, things that we cannot even imagine. Don’t underestimate yourself, God’s power is in you.

We don’t need to compare our lives or testimonies to other peoples, God has a plan for you that is different to everyone elses.

For when you feel weak or need courage…

Look to 2 Timothy 1:7, where it says that God did not intend for you to be scared, he made you to be brave, ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.’ This verses also highlights that all power and strength come from God. What a relief, we don’t have to be powerful ourselves, it all comes from God.

And what about when we feel like there’s nothing to look forward to or we don’t know where we are headed…

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those verses that is quoted a lot, but for good reason. It is proof that God has our back, he’s watching out for us. ‘”I know the plans I have for you,” declares The Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”‘ He has mapped out a journey specifically for you that he wants to take you on. We don’t need to compare our lives or testimonies to other peoples, God has a plan for you that is different to everyone elses.

The thing is, if we don’t look up from what’s right infront of us we wont realise where our help comes from. Look up and ask, because God is waiting to show you the answers.